But let’s go to your OP. Take a very aggressive courseload and do well. And then apply to the Ivies if you so choose. Keep in mind that they are reach schools for just about every applicant. Even kids with perfect standardized test scores and grades get rejected from these schools every year. The acceptance rates are very very low. These schools reject 90% or so of applicants.
So while you are looking at the elite schools, make sure you craft a list that includes some sure things that are affordable that you like also.
And please read the thread I’m going to link below. This student was a NMF, top student in his class, excellent LOR and ECs. No one expected that he wouldn’t get accepted anywhere the first time he applied to college…but that is what happened. Read the whole thread. It’s older but is a must read for anyone who wants to apply to elite schools only. Oh…and this was in 2005 when admissions were far less competitive than they are now.